Bre Petrunko, Bulgaria

'Hey, Petrunka! We keep looking, but nowhere is there a round dance to be found--except in your village, where there are three!'' --Petrunka is leading the first xhoro, and up comes a clumsy youth to join it. Instead of joining in the middle, he joins at the head, next to Petrunka, and ends up knocking the nosegay from her hair, and splashing mud on her slippers.

Dilmano Dilbero, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


"Beautiful Dilmana, Can you teach me to push the peppers so that they flower, and bear much fruit, and I can have as much as I wish?"
:Well, you push the peppers deep into the ground, and they will flower and bear much fruit, and you will have as much as you wish."

Dobro doshle, Bulgaria

Welcome wedding guests! You come as one hundred and you leave as one hundred and one.

Dragana i slaveya, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


Dragana was sitting in the garden under a white rosebush embroidering a piece of cloth and singing, when a nightingale came by and challenged her to a singing contest. 'If you win, you may cut off my wings. But if I win I shall cut off your fair hair.' Dragana won the contest and the nightingale then pleaded with her, 'Cut off my feet, but not my wings, for I need my wings to fly and to feed my young.' Dragana answered, 'Oh my sweet nightingale, I do not want to cut off your wings. It is enough for me to know that I have outsung a nightingale.'

Dumai Zlato, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


Speak to your mother, Zlata, and ask her to give you to me in marriage.
I answered the youth, "I have spoken to my mother and father, and they have refused you because you are a poor man."
"Then I will go far away, and earn money, so speak to your mother, Zlata."

Dunayetska Voda, Poland

Waters of the Dunayets, I am walking through a valley, where I will sing in its quietness. You will hear me, boy, but you will no longer recognize me.
I will not be good for Jan. Blossoms are flying around me in little pieces, and I did not put things to rights with him.
The ground is flooded with water. Hey, Jan, what a rebel you are! You are cutting trees for a forest path.

E, Kad Sam Sinoch, Croatia, Yugoslavia

Last night as I left the market, my sweetheart's mother met me. I said to her 'Good evening, Aunt,'' and she wished me happiness and asked, 'Is it true that you love my son?''--'It is true,'' I answered, 'I have loved him for a long time.''

Ergen Deda, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


The old man decides he wants to go to the dance, so he dresses up as a young man. But when he arrives, all the young girls run away, except for the littlest one, Angelina.
Poor Angelina.

Goigo yunache, Bulgaria, Pirin region

Goigo's aunt says to him, 'Goigo, brave Goigo, come to your aunt's great village. Have I got a girl for you!'

Helokane, Czechoslovakia

Hey, little one, as my own I graze you, and you are dragging yourself behind me, little doll.

Idzeme, idzeme, Czechoslovakia

We are coming home from work with four crowns each. We're bringing four crowns, and we drank four crowns worth. Oh, we really earned a lot!

Iz Dolu, Macedonia, Bulgaria

From the valley comes the bride, fair and rosy, slim and tall. As she walks, with her hair uncovered, her feet barely touch the ground. Barely turning her head, she looks at me, her eyes dark as cherries, her eyebrows gracefully arched. 'Oh mother, old mother,' she says, 'why have you kept me apart from him for so long -- three whole weeks!

Karshi Barchina, Bulgaria

Jumping over a hillock--Hey, my dearest darling!--grazing the cattle, sitting on a stone, playing the pipes, and dreaming of you, I hoped to meet you in a narrow street!

Kaval Sviri, Bulgaria

A wooden pipe plays, mother, up, down, just below the village. I would go, mother, to see it, to hear it. If it is one of our local boys, I will love him from today until noon tomorrow. If he is a boy from the neighboring village, I will love him for the rest of my life.

Ladarke idu v selo, Croatia, Yugoslavia

Arranged by E. Cosetto


We carry a green wreath of wild rose branches with three golden apples on it. Let us take the first and plant it in our field, so that we may grow much grain, so that we may fill five wagons, so that the village may be happy. To each house a young bride. To each boy a young maiden. Give this to us Lado, beautiful Lado!

Maika Rada, Bulgaria

Arranged by Pennywhistlers


Rada's mother is laments as she braids her daughter's fine hair , 'Rada, beautiful Rada, who will first admire your fair hair? Will he be a bachelor or a widower or a Turkish invader?' Rada softly answers, 'Sweet mother, he will be neither a bachelor nor a widower nor a Turkish invader. He will be none other than the bravest of the brave, the one who carries the banner!'

Maika Yana Nadaleko, Bulgaria

Yana's mother has given her in marriage in a far off place. Yana doesn’t want to go far away. Yana wants to go to the city, to Sofia, to the great central square.

Minka ye milo na maika, Bulgaria

Minka is dear to her mother. Her mother doesn't wake her up early. Minka used to get up early, fetch water early, sweep the yard early, meet with her friends early. Her friends came to house, and they said to her. 'Dear Minka, white rose, why do you get up early? Why do you get up early and fetch water?' 'My dear friends, my beautiful ones, my mother is marrying me off young. She is giving me away, she is is marrying me off young. I am sad because I am so fond of my little garden and my little basil plant.'

Mlad se Yusuf ozhenio, Bosnia, Yugoslavia

Arranged by S. Silic


Young Yusuf married and was with his love by midnight. A herald came by and called, 'Get up young Yusuf! You are accused of robbing the Sultan's treasury.' Yusuf's bride says, 'Oh Yusuf, my love, to whom are you leaving me?' 'I am leaving you to my mother, mine and now yours.' 'Ah, what good is a mother, when my love is not with me

Molich Ta, Bulgaria

I asked you, mother, I begged you, but I couldn't persuade you, neither to promise me to someone, nor to marry me off, but to promise me one more year, so that I might gather with the other girls at the working parties, and walk proudly with them, showing off our fine embroidered dresses. But you, mother, promised me to someone, and married me off.

Moy Dilbere, Bosnia, Yugoslavia

A young woman waiting for her beloved says, 'My dear one, where are you? Will you be coming tonight? Are you sick? Or are you kissing some other woman? I would rather hear that you are sick, than hear that you are flirting with another. I would rather have you come to me sick than have you ever flirt with another.''

Mujo Kuje, Bosnia, Yugoslavia

Muyo was shoeing his horse by the light of the moon. Muyo was shoeing, but Mother was cursing.--'Ah, my son,'' cried his mother, 'damn you! Don't shoe your horse by moonlight, but in the day and bright sunlight.'' --'Dear Mother,'' says Muyo's love, 'don't curse my Muyo, for he has promised to marry me.'' And Muyo says, 'I see neither the sun nor the moon, and my horse neither the light nor the dusk.''

Ne Bela Zarya, Russia

The dawn cannot have broken, the eagle cannot have flown its nest, my love cannot have left the courtyard. My love, where are you going? You have said goodbye to everyone, but you have not said goodbye to me.

Oi chorna, Ukraine

I am as dark as a gypsy since I met dark Ivan. He is tall and thin and wears an embroidered shirt. He says, 'I love you Marusya, I love your beauty. I love to watch you as you go for water.' The train was pulling away as I tearfully confessed to Ivan that I loved him. On the hill there are two oaks; they are alike, they are both green. Ivan and I are also alike; we are both dark.

Oi Harna, Ukraine

I am so beautiful. I am as beautiful as a bird, I am as beautiful as a star in the sky. I'm too beautiful for any man! And when I walk, out in the village, all the men follow me like clouds chasing the dawn.

Otishla Moma Xubava, Bulgaria, Pazardshisko region

Arranged by P. Koutev


A beautiful girl went into the green woods to pick flowers. As she picks the flowers to weave a colorful bouquet, she speaks tenderly of her true love, who is going away to become a soldier: "Go, my love, to be a soldier. I I will wait for you as long as necessary, and see you back with a bouquet of flowers in my hair and fine embroidered gifts." (Note: That is, ready for a wedding.)

Ovdovyala Lisichkata, Bulgaria, Thrace region

A mother fox speaks to her babies: "My darling young ones, where will I see you next? In the market on the butcher's table? Around a rich woman's neck?"

Pevano Kolo, Croatia, Yugoslavia (or Slavonia?)

'Hey bachelors! Spread wide your sleeves and dance with me--In vain is fine bedding if only bachelors sleep on it! You can judge the calf by the bull, and I know you, my black-haired darling, by your spotted bull. Bizovats is the best village in all Slavonia! The lamp is lit, the fire is crackling, and Mama wants a rich son-in-law."

Polegnala e Tudora, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


Tudora lay down under an olive tree to rest. A wind blows down from the mountains, breaking off a small branch, which wakes her. She curses the wind for waking her, saying, "Why did you have to blow just now? I was having a sweet dream in which my sweetheart was bringing me a bouquet with a golden ring inside."

Prekh'vrukna Ptichka, Bulgaria, Thrace region

The bird flies over the courtyard, over the white rose, lightly fluttering, quietly calling: 'I am coming, young bride, bringing you great joy. The fields are flat and full of grain, the black-headed ewes have all given birth to twin lambs, the bees have formed new hives, and all the little children are lively and healthy.''

Prochu Se Mome Nedelya, Bulgaria

The young maiden Nedelya became known as the fairest of the fair, the gaudiest of the gaudy. Find a young man from far away, so he may take her in marriage! A great wedding was organized. The wedding guests entered a thick forest, where a handsome stag stood in a clearing. The guests went off to admire the stag, leaving the young couple alone. Luckily, the wind blew off the wedding veil, allowing the young man to kiss the bride.

Reche Mama, Bulgaria

A young girl's mother is trying to marry her off, but can't decide to whom. The girl rejects the carpenter because he is ashen faced, and the grocer because he is mousy, but she likes the idea of the bagpipe player, and when he plays, she dances.

Savo Voda, Croatia, Yugoslavia

Waters of the Savo, speak to my love. Let him not cut the grass near the Savo, for he will be cutting my blonde hair.
Waters of the Savo, speak to my love. Let him not drink your waters, Savo, for he will be drinking my blue eyes.

Senyushka, Russia

Senya, don't come by the barn and stamp your foot and shake your head. I'm not going to marry you. I’m going to marry curly-haired Vanya. He has no money, but he has black horses, all shod, who beat the blood out of their hooves and make Vanya mad. Vanya kisses and runs away.

Shto e ludo, Macedonia, Yugoslavia

A young man dreams that a young girl comes to him with water. When he wakes the girl is gone. He takes a knife to stab himself but his pillow cries out, 'Young man, don't stab yourself!'

Shto Garit, Russia

'What is burning that does not burn out? What is smouldering in the fir grove? Why does my brother run to me?'' -- 'Oh sister, my white swan, don't you know that the matchmakers are at our house and that our parents are going to marry you off to a stranger?' Our father has agreed, our mother has commanded it, and they are sending you away to a strange home."

Shto Mi E Milo (1980s version), Macedonia, Yugoslavia

How glad I am to live here in the village of Struga, where I have a shop, and sit and watch the women go down to the well with their many-colored pitchers, where they laugh and talk with their friends.

Shto Mi e Milo (1990s version), Macedonia

Arranged by S. Silic


How happy I am to live in the village of Struga, where I have a little shop, and I can sit in the window and watch the women as they go down to the well with their many-colored pitchers to laugh and talk with their friends.

Shto ti se maika, Bulgaria

'Why does your mother scold you every night before supper? Oh girl, devilish girl, because you don't rise early and light the fire. But why does your mother scold me?' 'Because you pass by our courtyard playing your flute, the dogs bark, you stamp your boots and break the cobblestones.' 'If your mother scolds you because of me, I will go by another road, but I will love another girl.' 'Walk as you always walk, stomp as you always stomp! Mother is old_let her scold. She has forgotten the young years and the true thoughts.'

Snoshti S'm Minal, Bulgaria

'Last night I passed your courtyard, my dear Elenka, and there I lost my bronze pipes. Have you found them, dear Elenka?''--'No, I have not. My mother found them, and put them in a colorful box as a gift for me.'' - 'Dear Elenka, when will you see that you are breaking my heart?''

Svi svatovi kai gora zelena, Croatia, Yugoslavia

All the wedding guests are like green mountains. The bride is like a red rose, the groom like green rosemary.

Trugnal Mi Yane, Bulgaria, Pirin-Macedonia region

Yane Sandanski set off walking across the Pirin Mountain with a carbine over his shoulder and a double belt of cartridges. There came a young shepherd, and he asked him, 'Have you seen my men, the men from my regiment?''
"Oh Yane, leader of soldiers,'' answered the shepherd, 'your men are high in the Balkans, at the top of the Pirin Mountain.''

Ulani, Poland (South)

Oh Uhlans, you brightly-painted children, many maidens would chase after you. Many maidens and many widows would be ready to chase after you!
She was standing by the window, waving her handkerchief. "Come back Jasienku! I will love you!"

Vchera Minah, Macedonia

Yesterday, my sweet one, I went out into the Pirin mountains. There I found Yane Sandanski. He had a rifle on him and he spoke to me, saying, "If you are a true Macedonian girl, you will come with me to fight the Ottoman Turks!"

(Note: Yane Sandanski is a national folk hero who fought against the Turks for Macedonia’s freedom.)

Vecherai Rado, Bulgaria, from Devinsko, in the Rhodope mountain region

Arranged by P. Koutev


"Eat your supper, Rada, and come out, dear. I want to ask you if you've heard the rumor about me, that I've been knocking on doors other than yours."

Vetar Ve, Bulgaria

The wind blows, and the forest sways.

Xubava Si, Bulgaria

Arranged by J. Vulchev & J. An


My beautiful forest, how lovely are your trees, how fresh is your scent. When I look at you, my heart is filled with sorrow, because I cannot rest in peace beneath your leaves.

(Note: This song is about a young man going off to war, and is considered by many Bulgarians to be the national folk song.)

Yovano Yovanke, Macedonia, Yugoslavia

Yovana, sitting by the Vadar river washing clothes and looking up . . . your mother won't let you come to me, my dear Yovana. I am waiting for you to come, but you don't, my sweet Yovana.

Za Goroyu, Russia

Behind the mountain, behind the stone wall, that’s not a knock knocking, that’s not a thunder thundering. Those are our lords building a tower, on which they have readied two places for marriage. They have led out all the young maidens. The first holy child is Ivan, and the second is Maria. They were not born together, but they were meant to come together in one family.

Zaspala ye Fida, Bulgaria

Arranged by P. Koutev


Fida fell asleep under a white rosebush. A young man came by and stole her necklace. What will she do? How will she explain the stolen necklace to her mother and father?

Zaspo Yanko, Croatia, Yugoslavia (or Serbia?)

Yanko fell asleep under a poplar tree, a poplar tree with a golden branch. His sweetheart muses, 'My sweet beloved, my beautiful dark eyes--look into them, at me--I am breaking off the golden branch.''

Zvunche Drunka, Macedonia, Yugoslavia

A bell is ringing in the thick forest. No, it is not a bell, but a little girl. How beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.